Right- windrows mown in the morning, Centre- Phil spreading hay mown the day before, Left-Hay racks Since our last Introductory Scythe Course on 18th August we have been hay making again, although in a different fashion to earlier in the season. The weather has not been classic settled hay making
Category: Daily Hand Hay Making Blog
Using Racks Part 4 – taking the racks down
Last Monday, after two days of dry weather I took down some of the hay racks that we built at the end of July. It was the first chance to compare how the racks with and without canvas “hats” have fared. The racks have had 133.5mm of rain on them
Using Racks Part 2
Racks in Cae Mari Jones, some with canvas “hats” tied on Yesterday we finished putting the drier grass cut on the mowing day up onto racks, making 12 in the field in all. Today, I added some canvas “hats” to 5 of the racks, made from some bits of old
Using Hay Racks
Building hay racks yesterday evening The weather is definitely on the turn now and we are drawing towards the end of this session of hay making. But there is still plenty of work to do to save as much as the crop as possible. We have dried and carted all
Cae Mari Jones
Deciding if the hay mowed on the course on Wednesday is ready to cart This morning we spread the “mini-windrows” from yesterday to ensure there were no green bits tucked in the middle. By this evening, it was ready to cart. We have left some on the field to use
Working with Rows
“Mini-windrows” on Cae Mari Jones The hay from the Top Field is all in the barn and we are now working on Cae Mari Jones. The weather is still set fair, and we have been using a a different technique with rows to make it easier to fit the hay
Ready, Steady, Mow!
The Introductory Scythe course having a first go at scything on Cae Mari Jones The work Phil did yesterday setting up a “staggered start” on Cae Mari Jones was put to good use today by the participants on the Introductory Scythe Course. With plenty of grass to practice on and
Hay under the Hedge
Cae Mari Jones set up ready for a Scythe Course This morning Phil was doing more mowing in preparation for the Introductory Scythe Course we are running tomorrow. The field is now ready for the course participants to mow together during the morning session. He has mown a series of
The Rhythm of the Hay Making Day
Opening up Cae Mari Jones ready for further mowing It has been an amazing period of settled hay weather and it looks set to continue for a while yet. The days have developed a definite rhythm. Phil mows early in the morning. After breakfast one or both of us, depending
The Tools of the Hand Hay Making Trade
It has been another gloriously hot day. Philip mowed for about 3 hours early this morning. After breakfast we spread all the hay on the field, then hosted a very enjoyable visit from the Dyfed Smallholders Association. This evening we carted the hay that had been mown on Thursday, then
Stacking the Hay
After 9 dumpy sack loads (we stuff them well!), the “Stackpole” hay is safely stacked in the barn. As the hay is removed from the field, the quality of the scythe cut beneath is revealed. Despite being complete beginners, the Stackpole team have done very well, and achieved a pretty
Rowing up
Some of the “Stackpole” hay in it’s rows early this morning (July 13th) A very busy day for us yesterday, though not all with hay making. Phil squeezed in some mowing early on before going out to work in a neighbours garden, and I went off early to take produce